Vallejo-born go kart phenom sees NASCAR in her future

Heather Hadley's nickname, stenciled along with her go-kart racing number, 54, on the back of her father's car, might seem a little hot to handle for a 10-year-old girl. That is, until you see her race.

With serious blue eyes, strawberry-blond hair pulled back into a loose pony tail while explaining that her favorite pastime involves wearing a fireproof suit and a neck brace, Heather seems more worldly than her age.

"I kept beating everyone, so I got my own kart," Heather said, explaining her pastime turned into a more serious venture.

The Corte Madera fifth-grader, however, lets the kid-with-an-edge-side peek through. She's wearing a black T-shirt sporting a skull wearing a pink ribbon and a name tag that reads along the edges "I rock."

Heather, who was born in Vallejo and spends her weekends here with her dad, has come up quickly through the ranks in her go-karting age group in the past year.

What began as a lark at her dad's request -- why don't you take a run around the course with this go-kart -- has progressed to the purchase of Heather's very own go-kart.

Damon Hadley, a self-employed Vallejo handyman, said dishing out the dough for Heather's own go-kart was a simple choice. Because there was no other.

"She won 104 out of 107 races (in the circuit). It was something -- she just started taking to it," Hadley said. "I've been told I glow like a pregnant woman when I talk about Heather."

As the only girl in her Sonoma Raceway go-karting class, ages 8 to 12, Heather was champing at the bit to up the pace from the indoor driving speed of 20 mph. So, she moved outside at Sonoma, Dixon Speedway and other locations.

Heather typically has to keep her driving speed to a reasonable 32 or 34 mph but she prefers the thrill of 45 mph. And don't worry, she will tell you, she doesn't usually spin out.

Phil Joy, a house mover and Legend race car driver, first met Heather about six months ago, after he had completed a run of his own.

"One day she came out and was watching us with our Legends cars," Joy said of meeting Heather. "(She said) 'Hi, I'm Heather, I like how you race.' And then she asked if I wanted to see her race."

Joy, along with another admirer of Heather's skills, was so taken with her abilities that he offered to become one of her sponsors.

Instead of worrying about how her hair looks or comments on cars' colors, Joy said Heather quizzed him on everything including drafting other cars to use them to slingshot herself forward.

"I went up and watched her the other day, and she was drafting like crazy," Joy said. "The nice thing about her is she listens and she can read the track."

With role models like former Vallejoan and NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon and up-and-coming NASCAR fan-favorite Danica Patrick, it's little surprise that Heather sees a future for herself as a stock car driver.

Contact staff writer Jessica A. York at (707) 553-6834 or jyork@timesheraldonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @JYVallejo.